Communication system, image processing apparatus, server, and computer-readable medium

ABSTRACT

A communication system including an image processing apparatus configured to, in response to receiving acquisition instruction information from a server via indirect communication, receive authentication information from an information processing terminal device via near-field wireless communication, transmit the received authentication information to the server via the indirect communication, and in response to receiving communication instruction information, which indicates a method for data communication with a service providing apparatus, from the server via the indirect communication, perform data communication with the service providing apparatus in accordance with the received communication instruction information.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 15/051,738, filedFeb. 24, 2016, which claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 from JapanesePatent Application No. 2015-038035 filed on Feb. 27, 2015. The entiresubject matter of the each of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND Technical Field

The following description relates to one or more aspects of acommunication system configured to perform data communication between animage processing apparatus and a service providing apparatus.

Related Art

A communication system has been known in which when a user registers animage processing apparatus on a service providing apparatus via apersonal computer (hereinafter referred to as a “PC”), authenticationinformation is transmitted from the service providing apparatus to thePC. Further, in the communication system, when the user inputs theauthentication information into the image processing apparatus, datacommunication becomes available between the image processing apparatusand the service providing apparatus.

SUMMARY

Nonetheless, according to the known communication system, the user isrequested to perform an operation of registering the image processingapparatus on the service providing apparatus and an operation ofinputting the authentication information displayed on a display of thePC into the image processing apparatus. Namely, there is a problem thatthe user needs to perform troublesome operations to start datacommunication between the image processing apparatus and the serviceproviding apparatus.

Aspects of the present disclosure are advantageous to provide one ormore improved techniques, for a communication system, which make itpossible to simplify user operations to start data communication betweenan image processing apparatus and a service providing apparatus.

According to aspects of the present disclosure, a communication systemis provided that is configured to perform data communication with aservice providing apparatus on an Internet, the communication systemincluding an image processing apparatus, a server on the Internet, andan information processing terminal device. The information processingterminal device includes a terminal-side storage, a first networkinterface, a user interface, and a first controller configured toaccept, via the user interface, an input of an instruction to perform apreparation process to connect the image processing apparatus with theservice providing apparatus, in response to accepting the input of theinstruction to perform the preparation process via the user interface,transmit transmission request information to the server via the firstnetwork interface, the transmission request information being forrequesting the server to transmit authentication information, theauthentication information representing authorization to perform datacommunication with the service providing apparatus, receive theauthentication information from the server via the first networkinterface, store the received authentication information into theterminal-side storage, and transmit the authentication informationstored in the terminal-side storage, to the image processing apparatusvia the first network interface. The image processing apparatus includesan image processor, a second network interface, an operation interface,and a second controller configured to accept, via the operationinterface, an input of an instruction to perform data communication withthe service providing apparatus, in response to accepting the input ofthe instruction to perform data communication with the service providingapparatus, transmit communication request information to the server viathe second network interface, the communication request informationbeing for requesting the server to perform data communication with theservice providing apparatus, receive acquisition instruction informationfrom the server via the second network interface, the acquisitioninstruction information being for instructing the image processingapparatus to receive the authentication information, in response toreceiving the acquisition instruction information from the server viathe second network interface, set the second network interface into areceivable state where the second network interface is allowed toreceive the authentication information from the information processingterminal device, receive the authentication information from theinformation processing terminal device via the second network interface,transmit the received authentication information to the server via thesecond network interface, receive communication instruction informationfrom the server via the second network interface, the communicationinstruction information indicating a method for the data communicationwith the service providing apparatus, and in response to receiving thecommunication instruction information from the server via the secondnetwork interface, perform data communication with the service providingapparatus via the second network interface in accordance with thereceived communication instruction information. The server includes athird network interface configured to communicate with an externaldevice via the Internet, and a third controller configured to, inresponse to receiving the transmission request information from theinformation processing terminal device via the third network interface,transmit the authentication information to the information processingterminal device via the third network interface, in response toreceiving the communication request information from the imageprocessing apparatus via the third network interface, transmit theacquisition instruction information to the image processing apparatusvia the third network interface, and in response to receiving theauthentication information from the image processing apparatus via thethird network interface, transmit the communication instructioninformation to the image processing apparatus via the third networkinterface.

According to aspects of the present disclosure, further provided is animage processing apparatus including an image processor, a communicationinterface configured to communicate with an external device via anInternet, a near-field communication interface configured to performnear-field wireless communication with an external device, using anear-field wireless communication protocol, an operation interface, anda controller configured to accept, via the operation interface, an inputof an instruction to perform data communication with a service providingapparatus on the Internet, in response to accepting the input of theinstruction to perform data communication with the service providingapparatus, transmit communication request information to a server viathe communication interface, the communication request information beingfor requesting the server to perform data communication with the serviceproviding apparatus, receive acquisition instruction information fromthe server via the communication interface, the acquisition instructioninformation being for instructing the image processing apparatus toreceive authentication information, the authentication informationrepresenting authorization to perform data communication with theservice providing apparatus, in response to receiving the acquisitioninstruction information from the server via the communication interface,set the near-field communication interface into a receivable state wherethe near-field communication interface is allowed to receive theauthentication information from an information processing terminaldevice, receive the authentication information from the informationprocessing terminal device via the near-field communication interface,transmit the received authentication information to the server via thecommunication interface, receive communication instruction informationfrom the server via the communication interface, the communicationinstruction information indicating a method for the data communicationwith the service providing apparatus, and in response to receiving thecommunication instruction information from the server via thecommunication interface, perform data communication with the serviceproviding apparatus via the communication interface in accordance withthe received communication instruction information.

According to aspects of the present disclosure, further provided is aserver including a communication interface configured to communicatewith an image processing apparatus, an information processing terminaldevice, and a service providing apparatus via an Internet, the imageprocessing apparatus being configured to perform data communication withthe service providing apparatus using authentication information, theauthentication information representing authorization to perform datacommunication with the service providing apparatus, and a controllerconfigured to receive transmission request information from theinformation processing terminal device via the communication interface,the transmission request information being for requesting the server totransmit the authentication information, in response to receiving thetransmission request information from the information processingterminal device, transmit the authentication information to theinformation processing terminal device via the communication interface,receive communication request information from the image processingapparatus via the communication interface, the communication requestinformation being for requesting the server to perform datacommunication with the service providing apparatus, in response toreceiving the communication request information from the imageprocessing apparatus via the communication interface, transmitacquisition instruction information to the image processing apparatusvia the communication interface, the acquisition instruction informationbeing for instructing the image processing apparatus to receive theauthentication information, and in response to receiving theauthentication information from the image processing apparatus via thecommunication interface, transmit the communication instructioninformation to the image processing apparatus via the communicationinterface.

According to aspects of the present disclosure, further provided is anon-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer-readableinstructions that are executable by a processor coupled with aninformation processing terminal device, the information processingterminal device including a communication interface, a near-fieldcommunication interface, and a user interface, the instructions beingconfigured to, when executed by the processor, cause the processor toaccept, via the user interface, an input of an instruction to perform apreparation process to connect an image processing apparatus with aservice providing apparatus, in response to accepting the input of theinstruction to perform the preparation process via the user interface,transmit transmission request information to a server on an Internet viathe communication interface, the transmission request information beingfor requesting the server to transmit authentication information, theauthentication information representing authorization to perform datacommunication with the service providing apparatus, receive theauthentication information from the server via the communicationinterface, store the received authentication information, and transmitthe stored authentication information to the image processing apparatusvia the near-field communication interface, using a near-field wirelesscommunication protocol.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 schematically shows a configuration of a communication systemincluding a multi-function peripheral (hereinafter referred to as an“MFP”), a server, a mobile terminal device, and an informationprocessing terminal device, in an illustrative embodiment according toone or more aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2A is a functional block diagram of the MFP in the illustrativeembodiment according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2B is a functional block diagram of the mobile terminal device inthe illustrative embodiment according to one or more aspects of thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 3A is a functional block diagram of the server in the illustrativeembodiment according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3B exemplifies refresh tokens (hereinafter referred to as“R-tokens”) and PINs (“PIN” is an abbreviated form of “PersonalIdentification Number”) stored in a data storage area of the server inassociation with each other, in the illustrative embodiment according toone or more aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a procedure of a preparation process inthe illustrative embodiment according to one or more aspects of thepresent disclosure.

FIGS. 5 and 6 are flowcharts showing a procedure of a service executionprocess in the illustrative embodiment according to one or more aspectsof the present disclosure.

FIG. 7A exemplifies a service selecting screen to be displayed on adisplay of the mobile terminal device in the illustrative embodimentaccording to one or more aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 7B exemplifies a main screen to be displayed on a display of theMFP in the illustrative embodiment according to one or more aspects ofthe present disclosure.

FIG. 8A exemplifies a token accepting screen to be displayed on thedisplay of the MFP in the illustrative embodiment according to one ormore aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 8B exemplifies a token selecting screen to be displayed on thedisplay of the mobile terminal device in the illustrative embodimentaccording to one or more aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 9A exemplifies a near-field instruction screen to be displayed onthe display of the mobile terminal device in the illustrative embodimentaccording to one or more aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 9B exemplifies a token accepting screen to be displayed on thedisplay of the MFP in the illustrative embodiment according to one ormore aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a procedure of a service executionprocess in a first modification according to one or more aspects of thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a procedure of a service executionprocess in a second modification according to one or more aspects of thepresent disclosure.

FIGS. 12 and 13 are flowcharts each showing a service execution processin a third modification according to one or more aspects of the presentdisclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

It is noted that various connections are set forth between elements inthe following description. It is noted that these connections in generaland, unless specified otherwise, may be direct or indirect and that thisspecification is not intended to be limiting in this respect. Aspects ofthe present disclosure may be implemented on circuits (such asapplication specific integrated circuits) or in computer software asprograms storable on computer-readable media including but not limitedto RAMs, ROMs, flash memories, EEPROMs, CD-media, DVD-media, temporarystorage, hard disk drives, floppy drives, permanent storage, and thelike.

Hereinafter, an illustrative embodiment according to aspects of thepresent disclosure will be described with reference to the accompanyingdrawings.

FIG. 1 schematically shows a communication system 100 in theillustrative embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the communication system100 includes a multi-function peripheral (hereinafter referred to as an“MFP”) 10, a mobile terminal device 50, and a server 80. Thecommunication system 100 may further include an information processingterminal device 70. The communication system 100 is configured toreceive services from the service providing apparatus 110. The MFP 10,the mobile terminal device 50, the information processing terminaldevice 70, the server 80, and the service providing apparatus 110 maycommunicably be interconnected via one or more communication networkssuch as an Internet 101, a wired LAN, a wireless LAN 102, and acombination of the Internet 101, the wired LAN, and the wireless LAN102. It is noted that “LAN” is an abbreviated form of “Local AreaNetwork.”

The MFP 10 and the information processing terminal device 70 belong tothe wireless LAN 102. The wireless LAN 102 is connected with theInternet 101 via a router (not shown). The mobile terminal device 50 isconnected with the Internet 101 via a base station (not shown). Theserver 80 and the service providing apparatus 110 are connected with theInternet 101. It is noted that “the MFP 10 and the informationprocessing terminal device 70 belonging to the wireless LAN 102”represents that the MFP 10 and the information processing terminaldevice 70 are set to belong to the wireless LAN 102 and communicablewith other devices belonging to the wireless LAN 102. More specifically,the same SSID as an access point 102A of the wireless LAN 102 is set forthe MFP 10 and the information processing terminal device 70. The samenetwork address as assigned to the wireless LAN 102 is provided to theMFP 10 and the information processing terminal device 70.

The MFP 10 and the information processing terminal device 70 areconfigured to communicate with the server 80 and the service providingapparatus 110 via the Internet 101 from the access point 102A and therouter (not shown). The mobile terminal device 50 is configured toperform wireless communication with the server 80 and the serviceproviding apparatus 110 via the Internet 101 from the base station (notshown). The communication via the Internet 101 is an example of indirectcommunication with an external device via a communication device.Further, the MFP 10 and the mobile terminal device 50 are allowed toperform wireless communication therebetween without involving theInternet 101. The communication without involving the Internet 101 is anexample of direct communication that is wireless communication with anexternal device without involving any communication device. The router(not shown) and the base station (not shown) are examples ofcommunication devices.

It is noted that “wireless communication” is not limited to wirelesscommunication throughout an entire range of communication section.Namely, “the MFP 10 performs wireless data communication via the accesspoint 102A” may represent that the communication by the MFP 10 via theaccess point 102A includes at least wireless communication between theMFP 10 and the access point 102A. The same applies to the mobileterminal device 50 and the information processing terminal device 70.

[MFP]

As shown in FIG. 2A, the MFP 10 includes a printer 11, an image scanner12, a display 23, an operation interface 24, a Wi-Fi (trademarkregistered by Wi-Fi Alliance) communication interface 25, an NFC (whichis an abbreviated form of “Near Field Communication”) communicationinterface 26, a CPU 31, a storage 32, and a communication bus 33.Individual elements included in the MFP 10 are interconnected via thecommunication bus 33. The MFP 10 is an example of an image processingapparatus. The printer 11 and the image scanner 12 are examples of animage processor. The Wi-Fi communication interface 25 is an example of asecond communication interface and an example of a communicationinterface of the image processing apparatus. The NFC communicationinterface 26 is an example of a second near-field communicationinterface and an example of a near-field communication interface of theimage processing apparatus.

[Printer and Image Scanner]

The printer 11 is configured to perform a recording process of recordingan image expressed by image data on a recording sheet. As a recordingmethod of the printer 11, known methods may be employed such as aninkjet method and an electrophotographic method. The image scanner 12 isconfigured to perform a scanning process of scanning an image recordedon a document sheet and generating image data. The MFP 10 may furtherhave other functions such as a facsimile function to perform facsimilecommunication and a copy function to scan an image recorded on adocument sheet and record the scanned image on a recording sheet.

[Display]

The display 23 has a display screen configured to display various kindsof information. As the display 23, various types of displays may be usedsuch as an LCD (which is an abbreviated form of “Liquid CrystalDisplay”) and an OELD (which is an abbreviated form of “OrganicElectro-Luminescence Display”).

[Operation Interface]

The operation interface 24 is configured to accept a user operation ofselecting one of objects displayed on the display screen of the display23. Specifically, the operation interface 24 has buttons, and isconfigured to, when a button is pressed, transmit to the CPU 31 anoperation signal associated with the pressed button. The operationinterface 24 may include a filmy touch sensor formed on the displayscreen of the display 23. Namely, the display 23 may be configured as atouch panel display.

It is noted that the “objects” represent images selectable by a useroperation via the operation interface 24. For instance, the objects maybe character strings displayed on the display 23. When a direction keyof the operation interface 24 is pressed, one of the objects may bedisplayed in a highlighted manner. Then, when a determination button ofthe operation interface 24 is pressed, the highlighted object may beselected. Further, for example, when the operation interface 24 is atouch panel, the objects may include icons, buttons, and links displayedon the display 23. Then, an object displayed in a touched position onthe operation interface 24 (i.e., the touch panel) may be selected.

The operation interface 24, which is configured as a touch panel,accepts a user operation of touching a position on the display screen ofthe display 23. Then, the operation interface 24 outputs positioninformation that indicates the touched position on the display screen.For instance, the position information may be expressed as coordinates(x, y) on an x-y plane with an upper left end of the display screen asan origin, a rightward direction of the display screen as a positivedirection of an x-axis, and a downward direction of the display screenas a positive direction of a y-axis. As the touch sensor, known types oftouch sensors may be used such as an electrostatic capacitive touchsensor and a resistive film type touch sensor.

It is noted that, in the present disclosure, “touch” may include everyoperation of bringing an input medium in touch with a position on thedisplay screen. Specifically, “touch” may include a tapping operation ofseparating the input medium touching the display screen away from thedisplay screen in a particular period of time, a long touching operationof letting the input medium touching the display screen statically stayon the display screen, a sliding operation of sliding the input mediumin touch with the display screen, a flick operation of sliding the inputmedium in touch with the display screen with a sliding accelerationequal to or more than a threshold value, a pinch-in operation of slidingtwo input media to become closer to each other from respective differentpositions on the display positions, and a pinch-out operation of slidingtwo input media to become farther away from each other from respectivedifferent positions on the display positions.

Furthermore, “touch” may include an operation of bringing the inputmedium in proximity to the display screen even though the input mediumis not brought into contact with the display screen. The input mediummay include a user's finger and a stylus pen.

[Wi-Fi Communication Interface]

The Wi-Fi communication interface 25 is an interface for performingwireless communication with external devices. Specifically, the Wi-Ficommunication interface 25 is configured to perform indirectcommunication with the mobile terminal device 50, the informationprocessing terminal device 70, the server 80, and the service providingapparatus 110, and perform direct communication with the mobile terminaldevice 50. For instance, the Wi-Fi communication interface 25 performscommunication in accordance with a protocol complying with IEEE 802.11standards. In this case, the indirect communication indicatescommunication in an infrastructure mode. The direct communicationindicates communication in an ad hoc mode or Wi-Fi direct communication.

[NFC Communication Interface]

The NFC communication interface 26 is an interface for performingwireless communication in accordance with a near-field protocolcomplying with NFC standards. Wireless communication with externaldevices via the NFC communication interface 26 is an example of thedirect communication and an example of near-field wirelesscommunication. The NFC communication interface 26 includes an IC chipincorporated therein. The IC chip has a memory configured to storeinformation to be communicated with external devices. The NFC standardsmay be exemplified as standards for defining a near-field communicationprotocol. Further, TransferJet (trademark registered by TransferJetConsortium) may be exemplified as standards for defining a near-fieldcommunication protocol.

In the present disclosure, devices configured to perform communicationin accordance with a protocol complying with the NFC standards may bereferred to as “NFC devices.” In addition, communication according to aprotocol complying with the NFC standards may be referred to as “NFCcommunication.” Namely, the MFP 10 and the mobile terminal device 50 areexamples of the NFC devices. The MFP 10 and the mobile terminal device50 operate in one of modes such as a P2P (which is an abbreviated formof “Peer to Peer”) mode, a Reader mode, a Writer mode, and a CE (whichis an abbreviated form of “Card Emulation”) mode. In the presentdisclosure, the Reader mode and the Writer mode may collectively bereferred to as an “R/W mode.”

The P2P mode is a mode for performing bidirectional communicationbetween two NFC devices. NFC devices of “Type A” defined in ISO/IEC 1443determined by NFC Forum are allowed to operate in the P2P mode. Further,NFC devices of “Type F” defined in ISO/IEC 18092 determined by NFC Forumare allowed to operate in the P2P mode. Meanwhile, NFC devices of “TypeB” defined in ISO/IEC 1443 determined by NFC Forum are not allowed tooperate in the P2P mode.

The R/W mode and the CE mode are modes for performing unidirectionalcommunication between two NFC devices. The CE mode is a mode for an NFCdevice to operate as a “Card” that is a format defined by the NFC Forum.NFC devices in Type A, Type F, and Type B are allowed to operate in theCE mode. The Reader mode is a mode for reading information out of an NFCdevice operating in the CE mode. The Writer mode is a mode for writinginformation into an NFC device operating in the CE mode.

In the illustrative embodiment, a main explanation will be provided ofan example where the MFP 10 operates in the R/W mode, and the mobileterminal device 50 operates in the CE mode. In this example, namely, theMFP 10 that operates in the R/W mode is allowed to read information outof the mobile terminal device 50 that operates in the CE mode and writeinformation into the mobile terminal device 50. Nonetheless, the presentdisclosure is not limited to the example. For instance, the MFP 10 mayoperate in the CE mode, and the mobile terminal device 50 may operate inthe R/W mode. Both the MFP 10 and the mobile terminal device 50 mayoperate in the P2P mode.

In the illustrative embodiment, the NFC communication interface 26 ofthe MFP 10 performs a “Poll” operation. The Poll operation is anoperation of repeatedly outputting a polling signal at intervals of apredetermined period of time and monitoring a response signal to thepolling signal. On the other hand, in the illustrative embodiment, theNFC communication interface 56 of the mobile terminal device 50 performsa “Listen” operation. The “Listen” operation is an operation ofmonitoring a polling signal and outputting a response signal in responseto receipt of the polling signal.

In response to the mobile terminal device 50 being brought close to theMFP 10, the NFC communication interface 56 of the mobile terminal device50 receives a polling signal from the NFC communication interface 26 ofthe MFP 10. Then, when the NFC communication interface 26 of the MFP 10receives a response signal from the NFC communication interface 56 ofthe mobile terminal device 50, an NFC communication link (hereinafterreferred to as an “NFC link”) is established between the MFP 10 and themobile terminal device 50 in accordance with a predetermined procedurecomplying with the NFC standards. After that, the MFP 10 and the mobileterminal device 50 perform data communication with each other via theNFC link.

Nonetheless, the relationship between the MFP 10 and the mobile terminaldevice 50 is not limited to the aforementioned example. For instance,the NFC communication interface 26 of the MFP 10 may perform a “Listen”operation, and the NFC communication interface 56 of the mobile terminaldevice 50 may perform the Poll operation. In this case, in response tothe mobile terminal device 50 being brought close to the MFP 10, the NFCcommunication interface 26 of the MFP 10 receives a polling signal fromthe NFC communication interface 56 of the mobile terminal device 50.Then, when the NFC communication interface 56 of the mobile terminaldevice 50 receives a response signal from the NFC communicationinterface 26 of the MFP 10, an NFC link may be established between theMFP 10 and the mobile terminal device 50.

[CPU]

The CPU (which is an abbreviated form of “Central Processing Unit”) 31is configured to take overall control of the MFP 10. The CPU 31 acquiresbelow-mentioned various programs from the storage 32 and executes theacquired programs, based on various kinds of information output from theoperation interface 24 and various kinds of information acquired fromexternal devices via the Wi-Fi communication interface 25 and/or the NFCcommunication interface 26. Namely, the CPU 31 and the storage 32 forman example of a second controller and an example of a controller of theimage processing apparatus. More specifically, the CPU 31 executing acontrol program 35 is an example of the second controller and an exampleof the controller of the image processing apparatus.

[Storage]

The storage 32 has a program storage area 32A and a data storage area32B. The program storage area 32A stores therein an OS (which is anabbreviated form of “Operating System”) 34 and the control program 35.The OS 34 and the control program 35 are programs build in a binaryformat. The control program 35 may be a single program, or may be anintegration or collection of a plurality of programs. The data storagearea 32B stores therein data and/or information necessary for executionof the control program 35. The storage 32 is an example of anapparatus-side storage.

It is noted that, in the present disclosure, “data” and “information”are similar to each other in that each of “data” and “information” is acomputer-treatable bit or a computer-treatable bit string. The “data” issuch one or more bits that a computer is allowed to treat them withoutconsidering what is denoted by each bit contained therein. Meanwhile,the “information” is such one or more bits that a process by a computerdiverges depending on what is denoted by each bit contained therein.Further, an “instruction” is one or more control signals that prompt atransmission destination device to perform a next operation. The“instruction” may contain information, or the “instruction” itself mayhave a property as information.

Further, regarding “data” and “information,” even though a format (e.g.,a text format, a binary format, and a flag format) thereof is changedfor each of a plurality of computers, as far as they are recognized ashaving substantially the same contents among the plurality of computers,they may be treated as the same data and information. For instance, asituation may be possible, in which information representing “two” isheld as text-format information such as “0 x 32” in ASCII code in acomputer, and is held as binary-format information such as “10” inbinary notation in another computer.

Nonetheless, the aforementioned discrimination between “data” and“information” is not so strict, and exceptional treatment thereof may beacceptable. For instance, “data” may be temporarily treated as“information,” and “information” may be temporarily treated as “data.”Further, what is treated as “data” in a device may be treated as“information” in another device. Moreover, “information” may be takenout of “data,” and “data” may be taken out of “information.”

The storage 32 may be, for instance, one of or a combination of at leasttwo of a RAM, a ROM, an EEPROM, an HDD, and a buffer of the CPU 31. Itis noted that RAM is an abbreviated form of “Random Access Memory,” ROMis an abbreviated form of “Read-Only Memory,” EEPROM is an abbreviatedform of “Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory,” and HDDis an abbreviated form of “Hard Disk Drive.”

The storage 32 may be a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium.The non-transitory computer-readable medium may include recording mediumsuch as a CD-ROM and a DVD-ROM as well as the RAM, the ROM, the EEPROM,the HDD, and the buffer of the CPU 31. The non-transitorycomputer-readable medium may be a tangible medium. It is noted that thenon-transitory computer-readable medium does not include any electricsignal such as a carrier wave for carrying a program downloaded from aserver on the Internet.

The programs stored in the program storage area 32A are executed by theCPU 31. Nonetheless, in the present disclosure, operations to beimplemented by execution of the programs may be described with omissionof the CPU 31. Namely, in the following description, a description “aprogram A performs a process A” may represent “the CPU 31 executing theprogram A performs the process A.”

The OS 34 is a basic program that provides an API (which is anabbreviated form of “Application Programming Interface”) for controllinghardware elements included in the MFP 10 such as the printer 11, theimage scanner 12, the display 23, the operation interface 24, the Wi-Ficommunication interface 25, and the NFC communication interface 26.Namely, each of the aforementioned programs controls a correspondinghardware element by invoking the API provided by the OS 34. Nonetheless,in the present disclosure, operations to be implemented by execution ofthe programs may be described with omission of the OS 34. Namely, in thefollowing description, a description “a program B controls a hardwareelement C” may represent “the program B controls the hardware element Cvia the API provided by the OS 34.”

[Mobile Terminal Device]

As shown in FIG. 2B, the mobile terminal device 50 includes a display53, a user interface 54, a mobile communication interface 55, an NFCcommunication interface 56, a CPU 61, a storage 62, and a communicationbus 63. The mobile terminal device 50 is an example of a firstinformation processing terminal device. The mobile communicationinterface 55 is an example of a first communication interface and anexample of a communication interface of an information processingterminal device. The NFC communication interface 56 is an example of afirst near-field communication interface and an example of a near-fieldcommunication interface of the information processing terminal device.The CPU 61 and the storage 62 form an example of a first controller andan example of a controller of the information processing terminaldevice. More specifically, the CPU 61 executing a control program 65 isan example of the first controller and an example of the controller ofthe information processing terminal device. The storage 62 is an exampleof a terminal-side storage and an example of a storage of theinformation processing terminal device. Elements included in the mobileterminal device 50 such as the display 53, the user interface 54, theNFC communication interface 56, the CPU 61, the storage 62, and thecommunication bus 63 may have substantially the same configurations(functions) as elements included in the MFP 10 such as the display 23,the operation interface 24, the NFC communication interface 26, the CPU31, the storage 32, and the communication bus 33, respectively.Therefore, redundant explanations of the elements included in the mobileterminal device 50 will be omitted.

The mobile communication interface 55 is an interface configured toconnect with a mobile communication network (not shown) provided by acommunication provider. The mobile communication network (not shown) isconnected with the Internet 101. For instance, the mobile communicationinterface 55 performs wireless communication in accordance withcommunication standards such as W-CDMA, CDMA2000, or LTE. It is notedthat W-CDMA is an abbreviated form of “Wideband Code Division MultipleAccess,” and LTE is an abbreviated form of “Long Term Evolution.”Further, it is noted that the mobile terminal device 50 may include aWi-Fi communication interface, in addition to or instead of the mobilecommunication interface 55. In this case, the Wi-Fi communicationinterface of the mobile terminal device 50 may have substantially thesame functions as the Wi-Fi communication interface 25 of the MFP 10.

A functional block diagram of the information processing terminal device70 may be substantially the same as the functional block diagram of themobile terminal device 50 shown in FIG. 2B, except for the followingdifferences. The information processing terminal device 70 includes aWi-Fi communication interface, instead of the mobile communicationinterface 55, and does not include (an equivalent of) the NFCcommunication interface 56. Regarding the other points, the informationprocessing terminal device 70 may be configured substantially in thesame manner as the mobile terminal device 50. Although the informationprocessing terminal device 70 is not limited to a specific example, theinformation processing terminal device 70 may be a PC (which is anabbreviated form of “Personal Computer”). The information processingterminal device 70 is an example of a second information processingterminal device.

[Server]

As shown in FIG. 3A, the server 80 includes a communication interface85, a CPU 91, a storage 92, and a communication bus 93. The CPU 91 andthe storage 92 form an example of a third controller and an example of acontroller of a server. More specifically, the CPU 91 executing acontrol program 95 is an example of the third controller and an exampleof the controller of the server. The storage 92 is an example of aserver-side storage and an example of a storage of the server. Elementsincluded in the server 80 such as the communication interface 85, theCPU 91, the storage 92, and the communication bus 93 may havesubstantially the same configurations (functions) as elements includedin the MFP 10 such as the Wi-Fi communication interface 25, the CPU 31,the storage 32, and the communication bus 33, respectively. Therefore,redundant explanations of the elements included in the server 80 will beomitted.

As shown in FIG. 3B, for instance, the data storage area 92B isconfigured to store therein refresh tokens (hereinafter referred to as“R-tokens”) and PINs (“PIN” is an abbreviated form of “PersonalIdentification Number”) associated with the R-tokens. Each R-tokenrepresents authorization to perform data communication with the serviceproviding apparatus 110. Each R-token is an example of firstauthentication information and an example of master authenticationinformation. Each PIN is an example of second authentication informationto be issued by the server 80 in association with a correspondingR-token. Although the R-token and the PIN are not limited to specificexamples, the R-token may be binary data, and the PIN may be a numericalstring.

[Service Providing Apparatus]

The service providing apparatus 110 is configured to provide services tothe MFP 10. For instance, the service providing apparatus 110 mayprovide the MFP 10 with a service to store uploaded data, a service todownload stored data, and a service to convert a data format.

[Coordinated Operation by MFP with Server]

The MFP 10 is allowed to execute the coordinated operation incooperation with the server 80. The coordinated operation is started inresponse to the MFP 10 accepting via the operation interface 24 aninstruction to start the coordinated operation. When the coordinatedoperation is started, the control program 35 (more specifically, the CPU31 executing the control program 35) stores, into the data storage area32B, coordinated-operation information representing that the MFP 10 isperforming the coordinated operation. Hereinafter, for the sake ofexplanatory convenience, a state where the coordinated-operationinformation is stored in the data storage area 32B (i.e., a state wherethe MFP 10 is performing the coordinated operation in cooperation withthe server 80) will be referred to as a “coordinated-operation state.”In addition, for the sake of explanatory convenience, a state where thecoordinated-operation information is not stored in the data storage area32B (i.e., a state where the MFP 10 is not performing the coordinatedoperation in cooperation with the server 80) will be referred to as a“non-coordinated-operation state.”

When the MFP 10 is powered on, the coordinated-operation information isnot stored in the data storage area 32B. Namely, immediately afterpowered on, the MFP 10 is in the non-coordinated-operation state.Further, when the MFP 10 is powered on, the control program 35 controlsthe display 23 to display a standby screen. Information for displayingthe standby screen is not information received from the server 80 viathe coordinated operation. On the standby screen, acoordinated-operation icon for accepting an instruction to start thecoordinated operation is displayed. In response to accepting a useroperation of tapping a position of the coordinated-operation icon viathe operation interface 24, the control program 35 controls the storage32 to store the coordinated-operation information into the data storagearea 32B, and controls the Wi-Fi communication interface 25 to transmitto the server 80 coordinated-operation start information as a requestvia HTTP communication.

In response to receiving the coordinated-operation start informationfrom the MFP 10, the server 80 transmits instruction information as aresponse via the HTTP communication, to the MFP 10 through thecommunication interface 85. The instruction information includes atleast process information and a reply destination URL. The processinformation indicates a process to be executed by the MFP 10. The replydestination URL is a URL to which a result of the process by the MFP 10is to be returned, i.e., a URL indicating the server 80.

In response to receiving the instruction information from the server 80,the MFP 10 interprets the received instruction information, and performsa process according to a result of the interpretation. Then, the MFP 10transmits result information and reply information as a request via theHTTP communication, to the reply destination indicated by the replydestination URL contained in the instruction information. The resultinformation is obtained as a result of the process performed by the MFP10. The reply information includes identification information containedin the received instruction information.

In response to receiving the reply information from the MFP 10, theserver 80 interprets the received reply information. The server 80identifies which reply destination URL has been used for transmission ofthe reply information. Then, the server 80 selects a templatecorresponding to the identified reply destination URL from among aplurality of templates of the instruction information. Further, theserver 80 performs a process to acquire content information to becontained in next instruction information, in accordance with the resultinformation contained in the reply information. Further, the server 80generates instruction information including the acquired contentinformation, by editing the selected template. Then, the server 80transmits, to the MFP 10, the generated instruction information as aresponse via the HTTP communication.

In response to receiving the new instruction information from the server80, the MFP 10 performs a process according to process informationcontained in the received instruction information. Then, the MFP 10transmits, to the server 80, new reply information as a request via theHTTP communication. The server 80 performs a process according to thenew reply information, and transmits further new instruction informationto the MFP 10. Thus, the coordinated operation is implemented bybeginning with transmission of the coordinated-operation startinformation by the MFP 10 and repeatedly communicating the instructioninformation and the reply information.

Further, when the MFP 10 is in the coordinated-operation state, thecontrol program 35 determines whether a state where there is no inputoperation via the operation interface 24 has continued for a particularperiod of time. When determining that the state where there is no inputoperation via the operation interface 24 has continued for theparticular period of time, the control program 35 deletes thecoordinated-operation information from the data storage area 32B, andcontrols the display 23 to display the standby screen. Namely, the MFP10 is brought into the non-coordinated-operation state. In addition,when the MFP 10 is in the coordinated-operation state, the controlprogram 35 determines whether a particular key (e.g., a key for issuingan instruction to return to the standby screen) of the operationinterface 24 has been pressed. When determining that the particular keyhas been pressed, the control program 35 deletes thecoordinated-operation information from the data storage area 32B, andcontrols the display 23 to display the standby screen.

For instance, the instruction information may be an XML (which is anabbreviated form of “Extensible Markup Language”) file including atleast one of display information, acquiring unit information, imageprocessor information, and transmission instructing information. Thedisplay information indicates contents (e.g., texts and icons) on ascreen to be displayed on the display 23. The acquiring unit informationindicates an information acquiring unit (e.g., the operation interface24, the Wi-Fi communication interface 25, and the NFC communicationinterface 26) for acquiring information or accepting operations. Theimage processor information indicates an image processor (e.g., theprinter 11 and the image scanner 12) that performs image formation. Thetransmission instructing information indicates transmission ofinformation via the HTTP communication. The display information, theacquiring unit information, the image processor information, and thetransmission instructing information are examples of processinformation.

In response to receiving instruction information, the control program 35of the MFP 10 interprets information contained in the instructioninformation. The control program 35 controls the display 23 of the MFP10 to display a screen in accordance with the display informationcontained in the instruction information. The control program 35 setsvalid an information acquiring unit indicated by the acquiring unitinformation contained in the instruction information. For instance, thecontrol program 35 enables the NFC communication interface 26 to performcommunication via the NFC link. Alternatively, the control program 35may control the display 23 to display an icon for accepting a tappingoperation. Then, the control program 35 acquires information or acceptsan operation via the valid information acquiring unit. Further, aftercompletely transmitting the information acquired in accordance with theinstruction information to the server 80, the control program 35 setsthe valid information acquiring unit invalid, in accordance with one ormore definitions of the instruction information. Or, after completelyacquiring the information defined in the instruction information, thecontrol program 35 sets the valid information acquiring unit invalid, inaccordance with one or more definitions of the instruction information.

The control program 35 controls an image processor (e.g., the printer 11and the image scanner 12) indicated by the image processor informationcontained in the instruction information, to perform image formation.The transmission instructing information contains the reply destinationURL that indicates a reply destination of information, andinformation-specifying information that specifies which information isto be transmitted. The control program 35 transmits informationspecified by the information-specifying information to a replydestination indicated by the reply destination URL, via the HTTPcommunication. Further, the instruction information containing displayinformation may contain a serial number of the display information. Inthis case, the control program 35 may determine what serial number iscontained in the instruction information, and may identify aninformation acquiring unit corresponding to the determined serialnumber. The control program 35 acquires information or accepts anoperation via the identified information acquiring unit.

It is noted that a single piece of instruction information may contain aplurality of reply destination URLs. A single piece of instructioninformation may contain a plurality of pieces of process information,and a plurality of reply destination URLs that are associated with theplurality of pieces of process information, respectively. Further, theMFP 10 is allowed to receive, via the coordinated operation, a serviceprovided by the service providing apparatus 110.

In the present disclosure, for the sake of explanatory convenience, thedisplay information indicating contents on a screen (to be displayed onthe display 23) may be described as the display information definingcontents on the screen. Likewise, for the sake of explanatoryconvenience, the acquiring unit information indicating an informationacquiring unit may be described as the acquiring unit informationdefining the information acquiring unit. Likewise, for the sake ofexplanatory convenience, the image processor information indicating animage processor may be described as the image processor informationdefining the image processor. Likewise, for the sake of explanatoryconvenience, the transmission instructing information providing aninstruction to transmit information may be described as the transmissioninstructing information defining transmission of information.

[Control of NFC Communication Interface and Coordinated Operation]

The control program 35 is allowed to set the NFC communication interface26 into states such as a receivable state, an un-receivable state, atransmittable state, and an un-transmittable state. In the receivablestate, the NFC communication interface 26 is capable of receipt ofinformation via near-field wireless communication (hereinafter referredto as “direct wireless reception”). In the un-receivable state, the NFCcommunication interface 26 is not capable of direct wireless reception.In the transmittable state, the NFC communication interface 26 iscapable of transmission of information via near-field wirelesscommunication (hereinafter referred to as “direct wirelesstransmission”). In the un-transmittable state, the NFC communicationinterface 26 is not capable of direct wireless transmission.

The “receivable state” is a state where, after establishing the NFClink, the NFC communication interface 26 is allowed to receiveinformation via the NFC link. The “un-receivable state” is a state wherethe NFC communication interface 26 is not allowed to establish the NFClink, or a state where, even after establishing the NFC link, the NFCcommunication interface 26 is not allowed to receive information via theNFC link. The “transmittable state” is a state where, after establishingthe NFC link, the NFC communication interface 26 is allowed to transmitinformation via the NFC link. The “un-transmittable state” is a statewhere the NFC communication interface 26 is not allowed to establish theNFC link, or a state where, even after establishing the NFC link, theNFC communication interface 26 is not allowed to transmit informationvia the NFC link.

The control program 35 may set the NFC communication interface 26 intothe receivable state, by inputting into the NFC communication interface26 a setting value representing permission to establish the NFC link.The control program 35 may set the NFC communication interface 26 intothe receivable state, by turning on the NFC communication interface 26and further inputting into the NFC communication interface 26 thesetting value representing permission to establish the NFC link and asetting value representing permission to receive information via the NFClink. In the illustrative embodiment, in response to the setting valuerepresenting permission to establish the NFC link being input into theNFC communication interface 26, the NFC communication interface 26performs the Poll operation.

When at least one of the setting values is previously stored in the NFCcommunication interface 26, the control program 35 may omit to input theat least one setting value, after turning on the NFC communicationinterface 26. Further, when the NFC communication interface 26 ispreviously powered on, or when the NFC communication interface 26 isautomatically turned on to establish the NFC link, the control program35 may omit to turn on the NFC communication interface 26.

The control program 35 may set the NFC communication interface 26 intothe transmittable state, by turning on the NFC communication interface26 and further inputting into the NFC communication interface 26 thesetting value representing permission to establish the NFC link and asetting value representing permission to transmit information via theNFC link. When at least one of the setting values is previously storedin the NFC communication interface 26, the control program 35 may omitto input the at least one setting value, after turning on the NFCcommunication interface 26. Further, when the NFC communicationinterface 26 is previously powered on, or when the NFC communicationinterface 26 is automatically turned on to establish the NFC link, thecontrol program 35 may omit to turn on the NFC communication interface26.

The control program 35 may set the NFC communication interface 26 intothe un-receivable state and the un-transmittable state, by turning offthe NFC communication interface 26. The control program 35 may set theNFC communication interface 26 into the un-receivable state and theun-transmittable state, by inputting into the NFC communicationinterface 26 a setting value representing that establishment of the NFClink is not permitted. In the illustrative embodiment, the NFCcommunication interface 26 stops the Poll operation. Further, thecontrol program 35 may set the NFC communication interface 26 into theun-receivable state, by inputting into the NFC communication interface26 a setting value representing that reception of information via theNFC link is not permitted. The control program 35 may set the NFCcommunication interface 26 into the un-transmittable state, by inputtinginto the NFC communication interface 26 a setting value representingthat transmission of information via the NFC link is not permitted.

When receiving ID information and print data via the Wi-Fi communicationinterface 25 in a state where the data storage area 32B stores therein asetting value for enabling a secure print function of the MFP 10, thecontrol program 35 does not perform printing based on the received printdata. Then, the control program 35 controls the storage 32 to store thereceived ID information and the received print data into the datastorage area 32B in association with each other. Further, when receivingID information via the NFC communication interface 26, the controlprogram 35 determines whether the received ID information is stored inthe data storage area 32B. When determining that the received IDinformation is stored in the data storage area 32B, the control program35 reads out print data corresponding to the received ID informationfrom the data storage area 32B, and performs printing based on the readprint data.

Further, when receiving an SSID and a print instruction to performprinting based on print data in a state where the data storage area 32Bstores therein a setting value for enabling a mobile print function ofthe MFP 10, the control program 35 establishes a Wi-Fi connection inaccordance with the received SSID. Then, the control program 35 receivesthe print data specified by the print instruction, via Wi-Ficommunication, and performs printing based on the print data.

Further, when receiving from the server 80 the instruction informationthat contains the acquiring unit information indicating the NFCcommunication interface 26 in a state where the MFP 10 is in thecoordinated-operation state, the control program 35 transmitsinformation acquired from one or more NFC devices via the NFCcommunication interface 26, to the server 80. Therefore, when acquiringinformation from the NFC devices via the NFC communication interface 26in a state where the instruction information that contains the acquiringunit information indicating the NFC communication interface 26 has beenreceived from the server 80, the control program 35 might not determinewhether to use the acquired information in the secure print function orthe mobile print function or whether to transmit the acquiredinformation to the server 80 for the coordinated operation.

Therefore, in the present disclosure, the control program 35 determineswhether the coordinated-operation information is stored in the datastorage area 32B. When determining that the coordinated-operationinformation is not stored in the data storage area 32B, the controlprogram 35 sets the NFC communication interface 26 into the receivablestate. Then, when the data storage area 32B stores therein the settingvalue for enabling the secure print function or the mobile printfunction, the control program 35 executes the secure print function orthe mobile print function using the information acquired from the NFCdevices via the NFC communication interface 26. Further, whendetermining that the coordinated-operation information is not stored inthe data storage area 32B, the control program 35 does not transmit theinformation acquired from the NFC devices, to the server 80.

Meanwhile, when determining that the coordinated-operation informationis stored in the data storage area 32B, the control program 35 sets theNFC communication interface 26 into the un-receivable state.Nonetheless, when receiving from the server 80 the instructioninformation that contains the acquiring unit information indicating theNFC communication interface 26, the control program 35 sets the NFCcommunication interface 26 into the receivable state. Then, the controlprogram 35 transmits the information acquired from the NFC devices viathe NFC communication interface 26, to the sever 80 for the coordinatedoperation. More specifically, the control program 35 transmits theinformation acquired from the NFC devices via the NFC communicationinterface 26, to the reply destination indicated by the replydestination URL contained in the instruction information, i.e., to theserver 80 as reply information for the coordinated operation.

Then, as the reply information is transmitted, it is considered that theprocess defined by the received instruction information has beencompleted. Thus, the control program 35 sets the NFC communicationinterface 26 into the un-receivable state. Alternatively, in response toacquiring the information from the NFC devices in accordance with theinstruction information, the control program 35 may set the NFCcommunication interface 26 into the un-receivable state. Further, whendetermining that the coordinated-operation information is stored in thedata storage area 32B, the control program 35 does not execute thesecure print function or the mobile print function using the informationacquired from the NFC devices via the NFC communication interface 26.

When the MFP 10 is in the non-coordinated-operation state, the controlprogram 35 has not received the reply destination URL from the server80. Therefore, the control program 35 is not allowed to transmit thereply information to the server 80. Further, even though the MFP 10 isin the coordinated-operation state, when the control program 35 has notreceived the instruction information from the server 80, the controlprogram 35 does not have the reply destination URL. Therefore, thecontrol program 35 is not allowed to transmit the reply information tothe server 80. Meanwhile, when the control program 35 has received theinstruction information from the server 80, the control program 35 hasthe reply destination URL. Thus, in this case, the control program 35 isallowed to transmit the reply information to the server 80. Hereinafter,a state where the MFP 10 has received the reply destination URL from theserver 80 and is allowed to transmit the reply information to the server80 will be referred to a “first mode” for the sake of explanatoryconvenience. Additionally, hereinafter, a state where the MFP 10 has notreceived the reply destination URL from the server 80 and is not allowedto transmit the reply information to the server 80 will be referred to a“second mode” for the sake of explanatory convenience.

[Operations of Communication System]

Referring to FIGS. 4 to 9, an explanation will be provided of operationsof the communication system 100 in the illustrative embodiment.

FIG. 4 shows a preparation process to connect the MFP 10 with theservice providing apparatus 110. Firstly, the control program 65 of themobile terminal device 50 (more specifically, the CPU 61 executing thecontrol program 65) controls the display 53 to display a serviceselecting screen (S11). FIG. 7A shows an example of the serviceselecting screen. As exemplified in FIG. 7A, the service selectingscreen includes a [Service A] icon, a [Service B] icon, and a [ServiceC] icon. Then, the control program 65 enables the user interface 54 toaccept a user operation to select one of the icons included in theservice selecting screen.

Subsequently, for instance, the control program 65 accepts, via the userinterface 54, a user operation of tapping a position of the [Service C]icon (S12). In response to accepting the selection of the [Service C]icon, the control program 65 transmits transmission request informationto the server 80 via the mobile communication interface 55 (S13). Thetransmission request information is information for requesting theserver 80 to transmit an R-token or a PIN. For instance, thetransmission request information may contain a service ID andcommunication capability information. The service ID identifies aservice corresponding to the selected icon. The communication capabilityinformation represents that the mobile terminal device 50 is capable ofNFC communication. The selection of one of the icons included in theservice selecting screen is an example of an input of an instruction toperform the preparation process.

Subsequently, the control program 95 of the server 80 (morespecifically, the CPU 91 executing the control program 95) receives thetransmission request information from the mobile terminal device 50 viathe communication interface 85 (S13). In response to receiving thetransmission request information, the control program 95 performs anR-token issuance process (S14). The R-token issuance process is aprocess in which the server 80 relays communication of the mobileterminal device 50 and the service providing apparatus 110, and therebycauses the service providing apparatus 110, which provides the serviceidentified by the service ID, to issue an R-token. Specifically, in theR-token issuance process, the control program 95 acquires an accountname and a password from the user via the mobile terminal device 50, andcauses the service providing apparatus 110 to issue an R-tokenassociated with the account name and the password.

Next, the control program 95 receives the R-token from the serviceproviding apparatus 110 via the communication interface 85 (S15). Inresponse to receiving the R-token, the control program 95 determineswhether the sending source of the transmission request information iscapable of NFC communication, based on the communication capabilityinformation contained in the transmission request information (S16).

Then, in response to determining that the sending source of thetransmission request information is capable of NFC communication (S16:Yes), the control program 95 transmits the R-token to the mobileterminal device 50 via the communication interface 85 (S17). Namely, thecontrol program 95 transmits, to the mobile terminal device 50, theR-token as a response to the transmission request information receivedfrom the mobile terminal device 50.

Further, the control program 65 of the mobile terminal device 50receives the R-token from the server 80 via the mobile communicationinterface 55 (S17). The control program 65 stores the received R-tokeninto the data storage area 62B (S18). The data storage area 62B isconfigured to store therein a plurality of R-tokens.

In the meantime, it is possible to achieve a process of S11 to S16 bythe information processing terminal device 70, instead of the mobileterminal device 50. In this case, the transmission request informationcontains communication capability information representing that theinformation processing terminal device 70 is not capable of NFCcommunication. Then, in S16, the control program 95 of the server 80determines that the sending source of the transmission requestinformation is not capable of NFC communication (S16: No).

In this case, the control program 95 issues a PIN (S19), and transmitthe issued PIN to the information processing terminal device 70 via thecommunication interface 85 (S20). Further, the control program 95stores, into the data storage area 92B, the R-token received in S15 andthe PIN issued in S19 in association with each other (S21). Namely, thecontrol program 95 transmits, to the information processing terminaldevice 70, the PIN as a response to the transmission request informationreceived from the information processing terminal device 70. Then, theinformation processing terminal device 70 receives the PIN from theserver 80. The information processing terminal device 70 stores thereceived PIN into a storage thereof (S22).

FIGS. 5 and 6 show a service execution process for causing the MFP 10 toreceive a service provided by the service providing apparatus 110, usingthe R-token stored in the mobile terminal device 50. It is noted thatthe MFP 10 sets the NFC communication interface 26 into the receivablestate, before execution of a process shown in FIG. 5. The MFP 10 is inthe second mode. Further, the mobile terminal device 50 sets the NFCcommunication interface 56 into the un-transmittable state, beforeexecution of the process shown in FIG. 5.

Firstly, the control program 35 of the MFP 10 (more specifically, theCPU 31 executing the control program 35) controls the display 23 todisplay a main screen (S31). FIG. 7B shows an example of the mainscreen. As exemplified in FIG. 7B, the main screen includes a [Copy]icon, a [Scan] icon, and a [Web] icon. Then, the control program 35enables the operation interface 24 to accept a user operation to selectone of the icons included in the main screen.

Subsequently, the control program 35 accepts, via the operationinterface 24, a user operation of tapping a position of the [Web] icon(S32). In response to accepting the selection of the [Web] icon, thecontrol program 35 transmits communication request information to theserver 80 via the Wi-Fi communication interface 25 (S33). Further, thecontrol program 35 sets the NFC communication interface 26 into thereceivable state. The communication request information requests theserver 80 to perform data communication with the service providingapparatus 110.

Next, the control program 95 of the server 80 receives the communicationrequest information from the MFP 10 via the communication interface 85(S33). In response to receiving the communication request information,the control program 95 transmits acquisition instruction information tothe MFP 10 via the communication interface 85 (S34). The acquisitioninstruction information instructs the MFP 10 to receive an R-token viathe direct communication and accept a PIN via the operation interface24. For instance, the acquisition instruction information includes anXML tag that defines a token accepting screen, an XML tag that instructsthe MFP 10 to receive an R-token via the NFC communication interface 26,and an XML tag that instructs the MFP 10 to accept an entry of a PIN viathe operation interface 24. The XML tags and information between the XMLtags included in the acquisition instruction information are examples ofcontent information.

Subsequently, the control program 35 of the MFP 10 receives theacquisition instruction information from the server 80 via the Wi-Ficommunication interface 25 (S34). The control program 35 controls thedisplay 23 to display a token accepting screen defined by the receivedacquisition instruction information (S35). Further, the control program35 sets the NFC communication interface 26 into the receivable state.The MFP 10 comes into the first mode. Thereby, the NFC communicationinterface 26 repeatedly transmits a polling signal at intervals of apredetermined period of time (S36).

FIG. 8A shows an example of the token accepting screen. As exemplifiedin FIG. 8A, the token accepting screen includes a message “Please holdyour mobile terminal device over the MFP, or enter the PIN,” a textboxfor displaying a PIN input via the operation interface 24, and an [OK]icon. Then, the control program 35 enables the NFC communicationinterface 26 to receive an R-token and enables the operation interface24 to accept a user operation of entering a PIN.

Further, the control program 65 of the mobile terminal device 50controls the display 53 to display a token selecting screen (S37). FIG.8B shows an example of the token selecting screen. As exemplified inFIG. 8B, the token selecting screen includes a plurality of token icons.Each of the token icons is associated with a corresponding one of theR-tokens stored in the data storage area 62B. For instance, an [(A) UserA] icon is associated with an R-token issued for a user A of a serviceA. Further, a [(C) User A] icon is associated with an R-token issued forthe user A of a service C. Each token icon is an example of anauthentication information object that represents a correspondingR-token. Then, the control program 65 enables the user interface 54 toaccept a user operation to select one of the token icons.

Subsequently, the control program 65 accepts, via the user interface 54,a user operation of tapping a position of one of the token icons (S38).In response to accepting the selection of the token icon, the controlprogram 65 controls the display 53 to display a near-field instructionscreen (S39). FIG. 9A shows an example of the near-field instructionscreen. As exemplified in FIG. 9A, the near-field instruction screenincludes a message “Please hold this mobile terminal device over theMFP,” and a message “Now monitoring polling signals.” Further, thecontrol program 65 sets the NFC communication interface 56 into thetransmittable state.

Next, as shown in FIG. 6, in response to the mobile terminal device 50being brought within a range communicable with the MFP 10 via NFCcommunication, an NFC link is established between the MFP 10 and themobile terminal device 50 (S41). Then, the control program 65 of themobile terminal device transmits an R-token corresponding to theselected token icon, to the MFP 10 via the NFC communication interface56 (S42). Further, the control program 65 sets the NFC communicationinterface 56 into the un-transmittable state.

Further, the control program 35 of the MFP 10 receives the R-token fromthe mobile terminal device 50 via the NFC communication interface 26(S42). In addition, the control program 35 transmits the R-tokenreceived in S42 and apparatus type information, to the server 80 via theWi-Fi communication interface 25 (S43). Moreover, the control program 35sets the NFC communication interface 26 into the un-receivable state.The apparatus type information is information for identifying a type ofthe MFP 10. The apparatus type information may be a model name of theMFP 10.

Subsequently, the control program 95 of the server 80 receives theR-token and the apparatus type information from the MFP 10 via thecommunication interface 85 (S43). The control program 95 determineswhether the MFP 10 of a type identified by the received apparatus typeinformation is allowed to perform data communication with the serviceproviding apparatus 110 as an issuance source of the received R-token(S44). In other words, the control program 95 determines whether the MFP10 of the type identified by the received apparatus type information isallowed to receive services provided by the service providing apparatus110 as the issuance source of the received R-token (S44). The process ofS44 is an example of a determining process.

For instance, in S44, the server 80 may determine whether a model nameindicated by the apparatus type information is on a list of model namesof MFPs 10 that are allowed to receive services provided by the serviceproviding apparatus 110. For instance, the list of model names may bestored in the data storage area 92B, or may be acquired from anotherserver on the Internet 101. The same applies to a below-mentioneddetermining process (S53) by the mobile terminal device 50.

Then, in response to determining that the MFP 10 of the type identifiedby the received apparatus type information is not allowed to performdata communication with the service providing apparatus 110 as theissuance source of the received R-token (S44: No), the control program95 transmits error information to the MFP 10 via the communicationinterface 85 (S45). The error information represents that the MFP 10 ofthe identified type is not allowed to perform data communication withthe service providing apparatus 110. Further, although it is not shownin any drawings, the control program 35 of the MFP 10 receives the errorinformation from the server 80 via the Wi-Fi communication interface 25(S45). Then, the control program 35 controls the display 23 to displaythe contents of the received error information. After that, when the MFP10 comes into a non-access state where the MFP 10 does not access anyapparatuses or devices and is not accessed by any apparatuses ordevices, the control program 35 sets the NFC communication interface 26into the receivable state. The MFP 10 comes into the second mode.

Meanwhile, in response to determining that the MFP 10 of the typeidentified by the received apparatus type information is allowed toperform data communication with the service providing apparatus 110 asthe issuance source of the received R-token (S44: Yes), the controlprogram 95 of the server 80 transmits the R-token received in S43, tothe service providing apparatus 110 via the communication interface 85(S46). Then, the control program 95 receives an access token(hereinafter referred to as an “A-token”) issued by the serviceproviding apparatus 110 in association with the R-token, from theservice providing apparatus 110 via the communication interface 85(S47).

It is noted that, for instance, an R-token is issued in association withan account name, and is usable any number of times within a term ofvalidity. Meanwhile, for instance, an A-token is an example of one-timeauthentication information that is updated each time the MFP 10 performsdata communication with the service providing apparatus 110 and isdiscarded after completion of the data communication. Namely, theA-token has a shorter term of validity than the R-token. Further, theA-token is discarded after use of it, while the R-token remains storedin the MFP 10 or the mobile terminal device 50 even after use of it.

Subsequently, the control program 95 transmits communication instructioninformation to the MFP 10 via the communication interface 85 (S48). Thecommunication instruction information indicates a method for datacommunication with the service providing apparatus 110. Thecommunication instruction information includes the A-token that theserver 80 has received in S47. Further, the communication instructioninformation may include location information that indicates a locationof the service providing apparatus 110 to be accessed by the MFP 10. Forinstance, the location information may be expressed in a format of URL(which is an abbreviated form of “Uniform Resource Location”). Variouskinds of information contained in the communication instructioninformation are examples of content information.

Next, the control program 35 of the MFP 10 receives the communicationinstruction information from the server 80 via the Wi-Fi communicationinterface 25 (S48). The control program 35 performs data communicationaccording to the received communication instruction information, withthe service providing apparatus 110 via the Wi-Fi communicationinterface 25 (S49). Thereafter, when the MFP 10 comes into thenon-access state, the control program 35 sets the NFC communicationinterface 26 into the receivable state. The MFP 10 comes into the secondmode. Although the data communication in S49 is not limited to aspecific example, various processes may be cited as the datacommunication in S49, such as an upload process to store data into theservice providing apparatus 110, and a download process to receive datastored in the service providing apparatus 110.

For instance, the control program 35, which executes the upload process,may transmit data and the A-token to the upload destination indicated bythe location information, via the Wi-Fi communication interface 25. Inthis case, the service providing apparatus 110 receives the data and theA-token from the MFP 10. The service providing apparatus 110authenticates the received A-token. Then, in response to successfullyauthenticating the received A-token, the service providing apparatus 110stores the received data into its storage. Meanwhile, in response tofailing in the authentication of the A-token, the service providingapparatus 110 discards the received data and transmits error informationto the MFP 10. It is noted that, for instance, uploaded data may beimage data generated by the image scanner 12 in a scanning process.

Further, for instance, the control program 35, which executes thedownload process, may transmit the A-token and the location informationto the service providing apparatus 110 via the Wi-Fi communicationinterface 25. In this case, the service providing apparatus 110 receivesthe A-token and the location information. The service providingapparatus 110 authenticates the received A-token. Then, in response tosuccessfully authenticating the received A-token, the service providingapparatus 110 transmits data indicated by the received locationinformation, to the MFP 10. Meanwhile, in response to failing in theauthentication of the A-token, the service providing apparatus 110transmits error information to the MFP 10. Further, the control program35 of the MFP 10 receives the data from the service providing apparatus110 via the Wi-Fi communication interface 25. For instance, thedownloaded data may be used for a recording process by the printer 11 ofthe MFP 10.

In the upload process and the download process, for instance, theservice providing apparatus 110 may determine that the authenticationhas successfully been performed when an A-token coincident with thereceived A-token is stored in the storage of the service providingapparatus 110. Meanwhile, the service providing apparatus 110 maydetermine that the authentication has failed in the authentication whenan A-token coincident with the received A-token is not stored in thestorage of the service providing apparatus 110.

[Operations and Advantageous Effects of Illustrative Embodiment]

According to the aforementioned illustrative embodiment, when the mobileterminal device 50 that stores therein one or more R-tokens is broughtwithin a range communicable with the MFP 10 via NFC communication, datacommunication becomes available between the MFP 10 and the serviceproviding apparatus 110. Therefore, it is possible to simplify useroperations for performing data communication between the MFP 10 and theservice providing apparatus 110. Further, the MFP 10 may be configuredto acquire an R-token from the mobile terminal device 50 each time theMFP 10 performs data communication with the service providing apparatus110. Consequently, there is no need for storing any R-tokens in the MFP10. Thus, it is possible to avoid security risks that might be causedwhen the MFP 10 is used in common or stolen.

In the aforementioned illustrative embodiment, an example has beendescribed in which the MFP 10 acquires an A-token using an R-token, andperforms data communication with the service providing apparatus 110using the A-token. Nonetheless, the method for data communication withthe service providing apparatus 110 is not limited to the example. Forinstance, the MFP 10 may perform data communication with the serviceproviding apparatus 110 using the R-token. Namely, the steps S46 and S47shown in FIG. 6 may be omitted. Further, the steps S43 to S48 may beomitted.

In the aforementioned illustrative embodiment, an example has beendescribed in which both the state of the NFC communication interface 26and the mode of the MFP 10 are switched in the process shown in FIGS. 5and 6. Nonetheless, the NFC communication interface 26 may always be inthe receivable state, and the mode of the MFP 10 may only be switched.For instance, the MFP 10 in the second mode may come into the first modein response to receiving the acquisition instruction information fromthe server 80. Further, the MFP 10 may come into the second mode inresponse to transmitting the R-token to the server 80.

Alternatively, the control program 35 may operate the NFC communicationinterface 26 in the P2P mode. In this case, the receivable state may bea state where both of the direct wireless transmission and the directwireless reception are allowed. Meanwhile, the un-receivable state maybe a state where the direct wireless transmission is allowed, and thedirect wireless reception is restricted. Furthermore, the controlprogram 35 may operate the NFC communication interface 26 in the CEmode. For instance, the receivable state of the NFC communicationinterface 26 that operates in the CE mode may be a state where the NFCcommunication interface 26 is performing the “Listen” operation.Additionally, for instance, the un-receivable state of the NFCcommunication interface 26 that operates in the CE mode may be a statewhere the NFC communication interface 26 stops the “Listen” operation.

Further, the method for transmitting the R-token from the mobileterminal device 50 to the MFP 10 is not limited to NFC communication.For instance, the MFP 10 and the mobile terminal device 50 maycommunicate therebetween information (e.g., SSIDs) necessary forestablishment of a Wi-Fi direct connection, via NFC communication. Then,the mobile terminal device 50 may establish a Wi-Fi direct connectionwith the MFP 10, using the necessary information. Further, the mobileterminal device 50 may transmit the R-token to the MFP 10 via theestablished Wi-Fi direct connection. Namely, NFC communication may beused for at least a part of a procedure for communicating the R-tokenbetween the MFP 10 and the mobile terminal device 50.

Further, according to the aforementioned illustrative embodiment, thereis no need for implementing, into the MFP 10, a determining process ofdetermining whether the MFP 10 has a function to perform datacommunication with the service providing apparatus 110. In general, itis relatively difficult to add a new process into the MFP 10 incomparison with when a new process is implemented into the server 80.Hence, by causing the server 80 to determine whether the MFP 10 has afunction to perform data communication with the service providingapparatus 110, in an attempt to connect the MFP 10 with a new serviceproviding apparatus 110, it is possible to properly determine whetherthe MFP 10 is allowed to perform data communication with the new serviceproviding apparatus 110. It is noted that the server 80 may notnecessarily perform the determining process (S44). As will be describedin a below-mentioned first modification, the mobile terminal device 50may perform a determining process (S53).

Hereinabove, the illustrative embodiment according to aspects of thepresent disclosure has been described. The present disclosure can bepracticed by employing conventional materials, methodology andequipment. Accordingly, the details of such materials, equipment andmethodology are not set forth herein in detail. In the previousdescriptions, numerous specific details are set forth, such as specificmaterials, structures, chemicals, processes, etc., in order to provide athorough understanding of the present disclosure. However, it should berecognized that the present disclosure can be practiced withoutreapportioning to the details specifically set forth. In otherinstances, well known processing structures have not been described indetail, in order not to unnecessarily obscure the present disclosure.

Only an exemplary illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure andbut a few examples of their versatility are shown and described in thepresent disclosure. It is to be understood that the present disclosureis capable of use in various other combinations and environments and iscapable of changes or modifications within the scope of the inventiveconcept as expressed herein. For instance, according to aspects of thepresent disclosure, the following modifications are possible.

[First Modification]

Subsequently, referring to FIG. 10, a service execution process of afirst modification will be described. It is noted that, regarding thesame elements and features as exemplified in the aforementionedillustrative embodiment, a redundant explanation of them will beomitted. Differences from the aforementioned illustrative embodimentwill mainly be described. The process described with reference to FIG. 5may be applied to the first modification. The first modification isdifferent from the aforementioned illustrative embodiment in that, inthe first modification, the mobile terminal device 50 determines whetherdata communication is available between the MFP 10 and the serviceproviding apparatus 110.

Before execution of the process shown in FIG. 10, the NFC communicationinterface 26 is in the receivable state and the transmittable state, andthe MFP 10 is in the first mode. In addition, the NFC communicationinterface 56 is in the receivable state and the transmittable state.

Firstly, in response to an NFC link being established between the MFP 10and the mobile terminal device 50 (S51), the control program 35 of theMFP 10 transmits apparatus type information to the mobile terminaldevice 50 via the NFC communication interface 26 (S52). Further, thecontrol program 65 of the mobile terminal device 50 receives theapparatus type information from the MFP 10 via the NFC communicationinterface 56 (S52). The control program 65 determines whether the MFP 10of an apparatus type identified by the received apparatus typeinformation is allowed to perform data communication with the serviceproviding apparatus 110 as an issuance source of an R-tokencorresponding to the selected token icon (S53). The process of S53 isanother example of the determining process.

Then, in response to determining that the MFP 10 of the apparatus typeidentified by the received apparatus type information is not allowed toperform data communication with the service providing apparatus 110 asthe issuance source of the R-token corresponding to the selected tokenicon (S53: No), the control program 65 transmits error information tothe MFP 10 via the NFC communication interface 56 (S54). The errorinformation represents that the MFP 10 of the identified apparatus typeis not allowed to perform data communication with the service providingapparatus 110. Then, the control program 65 sets the NFC communicationinterface 56 into the un-receivable state and the un-transmittablestate. Further, the control program 35 of the MFP 10 receives the errorinformation from the mobile terminal device 50 via the NFC communicationinterface 26 (S54). The control program 35 controls the display 23 todisplay contents of the received error information. Thereafter, when theMFP 10 comes into the non-access state, the control program 35 sets theNFC communication interface 26 into the receivable state and thetransmittable state. The MFP 10 comes into the second mode.

Meanwhile, in response to determining that the MFP 10 of the apparatustype identified by the received apparatus type information is allowed toperform data communication with the service providing apparatus 110 asthe issuance source of the R-token corresponding to the selected tokenicon (S53: Yes), the control program 65 transmits the R-tokencorresponding to the selected token icon to the MFP 10 via the NFCcommunication interface 56 (S55). Then, the control program 35 transmitsthe received R-token to the server 80 via the Wi-Fi communicationinterface 25 (S56). Further, the control program 35 sets the NFCcommunication interface 26 into the un-receivable state and theun-transmittable state.

It is noted that S56 shown in FIG. 10 is different from S43 shown inFIG. 6 since the apparatus type information is not transmitted in S56.The process of S57 to S60 shown in FIG. 10 is substantially the same asthe process of S46 to S49 shown in FIG. 6.

According to the first modification, there is no need for the MFP 10 todetermine whether the MFP 10 has a function to perform datacommunication with the service providing apparatus 110. In this respect,the first modification is different from the aforementioned illustrativeembodiment. Consequently, according to the first modification, in anattempt to connect the MFP 10 with a new service providing apparatus110, it is possible to properly determine whether the MFP 10 is allowedto perform data communication with the new service providing apparatus110.

In the first modification, an example has been described in which inresponse to receipt of the acquisition instruction information includingthe XML tag that instructs the MFP 10 to receive the R-token via the NFCcommunication interface 26 in S34 shown in FIG. 5, the MFP 10 performsthe process of S51 to S56. Nonetheless, more specifically, theacquisition instruction information received in S34 may include an XMLtag that instructs the MFP 10 to transmit the apparatus type informationvia the NFC communication interface 26, and an XML tag that instructsthe MFP 10 to receive the error information or the R-token via the NFCcommunication interface 26.

Alternatively, the MFP 10 may receive, from the server 80, transmissioninstruction information that instructs the MFP 10 to transmit theapparatus type information via the NFC communication interface 26. Next,the MFP 10 may perform the process of S51 in accordance with thereceived transmission instruction information. Subsequently, the MFP 10may provide to the server 80 a notification that the MFP 10 hascompletely transmitted the apparatus type information in accordance withthe transmission instruction information. Subsequently, the MFP 10 mayreceive, from the server 80, acquisition instruction information thatinstructs the MFP 10 to receive the error information or the R-token viathe NFC communication interface 26. Then, the MFP 10 may perform theprocess of S53 and the following steps in accordance with the receivedacquisition instruction information.

[Second Modification]

Subsequently, referring to FIG. 11, a service execution process of asecond modification will be described. Regarding substantially the samefeatures and elements as exemplified in the aforementioned illustrativeembodiment, a redundant explanation of them will be omitted. Differencesfrom the aforementioned illustrative embodiment will mainly bedescribed. The process described with reference to FIG. 5 may be appliedto the second modification. The second modification is different fromthe aforementioned illustrative embodiment and the first modification inthat, in the second modification, a PIN is transmitted from the mobileterminal device 50 to the MFP 10 via NFC communication.

Specifically, in the process shown in FIG. 4, the control program 95 ofthe server 80 issues a PIN, regardless of whether the sending source ofthe transmission request information is capable of NFC communication. Inaddition, the control program 95 transmits the issued PIN to the mobileterminal device 50 via the communication interface 85. Further, thecontrol program 95 stores, into the data storage area 92B, the R-tokenreceived from the service providing apparatus 110 and the issued PIN inassociation with each other.

Further, in the process shown in FIG. 4, the control program 65 of themobile terminal device 50 receives the PIN from the server 80 via themobile communication interface 55. The control program 65 stores thereceived PIN into the data storage area 62B. Moreover, the token iconsshown in FIG. 8B are associated with PINs stored in the data storagearea 62B.

Further, before execution of the process shown in FIG. 11, the NFCcommunication interface 26 is in the receivable state and thetransmittable state, and the MFP 10 is in the first mode. In addition,the NFC communication interface 56 is in the receivable state and thetransmittable state. Then, in response to an NFC link being establishedbetween the MFP 10 and the mobile terminal device 50 (S61), the controlprogram 65 transmits a PIN corresponding to the selected token icon, tothe MFP 10 via the NFC communication interface 56 (S62).

Next, the control program 35 of the MFP 10 receives the PIN from themobile terminal device 50 via the NFC communication interface 26 (S62).The control program 35 transmits the received PIN to the server 80 viathe Wi-Fi communication interface 25 (S63). Further, the control program35 sets the NFC communication interface 26 into the un-receivable stateand the un-transmittable state.

Subsequently, the control program 95 of the server 80 receives the PINfrom the MFP 10 via the communication interface 85 (S63). The controlprogram 95 determines whether an R-token associated with the receivedPIN is stored in the data storage area 92B (S64). The process of S64 isanother example of the determining process.

In response to determining that an R-token associated with the receivedPIN is not stored in the data storage area 92B (S64: No), the controlprogram 95 transmits error information to the MFP 10 via thecommunication interface 85 (S65). The error information represents thatthe MFP 10 is not allowed to perform data communication with the serviceproviding apparatus 110. Further, the control program 35 of the MFP 10receives the error information from the server 80 via the NFCcommunication interface 26 (S65). Thereafter, the control program 35controls the display 23 to display contents of the received errorinformation. Then, after the MFP 10 comes into the non-access state, thecontrol program 35 sets the NFC communication interface 26 into thereceivable state and the transmittable state. The MFP 10 comes into thesecond mode.

Meanwhile, in response to determining that an R-token associated withthe received PIN is stored in the data storage area 92B (S64: Yes), thecontrol program 95 transmits the R-token to the MFP 10 via thecommunication interface 85 (S66).

Subsequently, the control program 35 of the MFP 10 receives the R-tokenand transmission instruction information of the R-token, from the server80 via the Wi-Fi communication interface 25 (S66). The transmissioninstruction information of the R-token includes, for instance, an XMLtag that instructs the MFP 10 to transmit the R-token to the mobileterminal device 50 via the NFC communication interface 26, and an XMLtag that instructs the MFP 10 to transmit the R-token to the server 80via the Wi-Fi communication interface 25. The XML tags and informationbetween the XML tags included in the transmission instructioninformation are examples of content information. Further, the controlprogram 35 sets the NFC communication interface 26 into the receivablestate and the transmittable state.

The control program 35 transmits the received R-token to the mobileterminal device 50 via the NFC communication interface 26 (S67).Further, the communication system 100 performs the process of S56 toS60, using the R-token received by the MFP 10 in S66. Then, after theMFP 10 comes into the non-access state, the control program 35 sets theNFC communication interface 26 into the receivable state and thetransmittable state. The MFP 10 comes into the second mode.

The control program 65 of the mobile terminal device 50 receives theR-token from the MFP 10 (S67). The control program 65 stores thereceived R-token into the data storage area 62B (S68). Further, thecontrol program 65 sets the NFC communication interface 56 into theun-receivable state and the un-transmittable state. After establishmentof the NFC link between the MFP 10 and the mobile terminal device 50,the NFC link may be maintained until the R-token is transmitted from theMFP 10 to the mobile terminal device 50 in S67. Alternatively, the NFClink may be broken after the PIN is transmitted from the mobile terminaldevice 50 to the MFP 10 in S62, and may be reestablished before theR-token is transmitted from the MFP 10 to the mobile terminal device 50in S67.

According to the second modification, in response to the mobile terminaldevice 50 storing the PIN therein being brought within a rangecommunicable with the MFP 10 via NFC communication, data communicationbecomes available between the MFP 10 and the service providing apparatus110. Thus, it is possible to simplify user operations for performingdata communication between the MFP 10 and the service providingapparatus 110. Further, it is possible to use a known server 80configured to transmit a PIN issued in association with an R-token, andtherefore to reduce a cost for developing the server 80.

Further, according to the second modification, in each datacommunication after the first data communication that the MFP 10performs with the service providing apparatus 110, it is possible toskip (omit) the steps S63 to S66. Nonetheless, the steps S67 and S68shown in FIG. 11 may be omitted. Namely, the MFP 10 may receive the PINfrom the mobile terminal device 50 each time the MFP 10 performs datacommunication with the service providing apparatus 110. Alternatively,instead of the steps S67 and S68, a process of S77 shown in FIG. 12 maybe executed.

Further, in S66, the MFP 10 may receive first transmission instructioninformation from the server 80. The first transmission instructioninformation instructs the MFP 10 to transmit the R-token via the NFCcommunication interface 26. Next, the MFP 10 may perform the process ofS67 in accordance with the received first transmission instructioninformation. Subsequently, the MFP 10 may provide to the server 80 anotification that the MFP 10 has completely transmitted the R-token inaccordance with the first transmission instruction information. Next,the MFP 10 may receive second transmission instruction information fromthe server 80. The second transmission instruction information instructsthe MFP 10 to transmit the R-token via the Wi-Fi communication interface25. Then, the MFP 10 may perform the process of S56 and the followingsteps in accordance with the received second transmission instructioninformation.

[Third Modification]

Subsequently, referring to FIGS. 12 and 13, a service execution processof a third modification will be described. Regarding substantially thesame features and elements as exemplified in the aforementionedillustrative embodiment, a redundant explanation of them will beomitted. Differences from the aforementioned illustrative embodimentwill mainly be described. The process of S31 to S35 shown in FIG. 5 maybe applied to the third modification. The third modification isdifferent from the aforementioned illustrative embodiment and the firstand second modifications in that, in the third modification, instead ofthe mobile terminal device 50, the information processing terminaldevice 70 is used.

The information processing terminal device 70 displays, on the displaythereof, the PIN stored in the storage thereof in S22 shown in FIG. 4(S71). Then, the user who saw the PIN displayed on the display of theinformation processing terminal device 70 is allowed to input the PIN byoperating the operation interface 24, in a state where the tokenaccepting screen as exemplified in FIG. 8A is being displayed on thedisplay 23 of the MFP 10. Namely, the control program 35 of the MFP 10accepts a user operation to input the PIN via the operation interface 24(S72).

Next, the control program 35 transmits the PIN to the server 80 via theWi-Fi communication interface 25 (S73). The process of S73 to S76 issubstantially the same as the process of S63 to S66 shown in FIG. 11.Then, the control program 35 receives the R-token from the server 80 viathe Wi-Fi communication interface 25. Further, the control program 35stores the received R-token into the data storage area 32B (S77).Moreover, the communication system 100 performs the process of S56 toS60, using the R-token received by the MFP 10 in S76.

Further, according to the third modification, in S33 shown in FIG. 5,the control program 35 transmits, to the server 80, the communicationrequest information that includes information for identifying R-tokensstored in the data storage area 32B. Consequently, the control program35 of the MFP 10, which holds the R-tokens stored in the data storagearea 32B thereof, controls the display 23 to display a token acceptingscreen shown in FIG. 9B, instead of the token accepting screen shown inFIG. 8A, in accordance with the acquisition instruction information(S81).

As exemplified in FIG. 9B, the token accepting screen includes a message“Please hold your mobile terminal device over the MFP, or select one ofthe tokens,” and token icons. The tokens icons are associated with theR-tokens stored in the data storage area 32B. Then, the control program35 enables the NFC communication interface 26 to receive an R-token, andenables the operation interface 24 to accept a user operation to selectone of the token icons. Each token icon is an example of theauthentication information object.

Then, the control program 35 accepts, via the operation interface 24, auser operation of tapping a position of one of the token icons (S82). Inresponse to accepting the selection of one of the token icons, thecontrol program 35 transmits an R-token stored in the data storage area32B in association with the selected token icon, to the server 80 viathe Wi-Fi communication interface 25 (S83). Further, the communicationsystem 100 performs the process of S57 to S60, using the R-tokenassociated with the selected token icon.

According to the third modification, even though a user only has aninformation processing terminal device 70 without an NFC communicationfunction, the user is allowed to cause the MFP 10 and the serviceproviding apparatus 110 to perform data communication therebetween in aknown method. Namely, according to aspects of the present disclosure,the third modification may not independently be implemented, but may beimplemented in combination with at least one of the aforementionedillustrative embodiment and the first and second modifications.

In the aforementioned illustrative embodiment and the first to thirdmodifications, each of the aforementioned processes by the MFP 10 isimplemented when the CPU 31 executes the control program 35 stored inthe program storage area 32A of the storage 32. Likewise, each of theaforementioned processes by the mobile terminal device 50 is implementedwhen the CPU 61 executes the control program 65 stored in the programstorage area 62A of the storage 62. Further, each of the aforementionedprocesses by the server 80 is implemented when the CPU 91 executes thecontrol program 95 stored in the program storage area 92A of the storage92. Nonetheless, regarding the processes by each of the MFP 10, themobile terminal device 50, and the server 80, a part or all of them maybe implemented by hardware such as one or more integrated circuits.

Further, aspects of the present disclosure achieved as the MFP 10, themobile terminal device 50, and the server 80 may be achieved as programsthat cause the MFP 10, the mobile terminal device 50, and the server 80to perform the processes. The programs may be provided as being storedin non-transitory computer-readable media including but not limited toRAMs, ROMs, flash memories, EEPROMs, CD-media, DVD-media, hard diskdrives, floppy drives, and storage coupled with a server that isconnectable with the MFP 10, the mobile terminal device 50, and theserver 80 via a communication network. The programs may be delivered asinformation or signals indicating the programs, via the communicationnetwork such as the Internet.

What is claimed is:
 1. A communication system configured to perform datacommunication with a service providing apparatus on an Internet, thecommunication system comprising: an image processing apparatus: a serveron the Internet; and an information processing terminal devicecomprising: a terminal-side storage; a first network interface; a userinterface; and a first controller configured to: accept, via the userinterface, an input of an instruction to perform a preparation processto connect the image processing apparatus with the service providingapparatus; in response to accepting the input of the instruction toperform the preparation process via the user interface, transmittransmission request information via the first network interface, thetransmission request information being for requesting transmission ofauthentication information, the authentication information representingauthorization to perform data communication with the service providingapparatus; receive the authentication information via the first networkinterface; store the received authentication information into theterminal-side storage; and transmit the authentication informationstored in the terminal-side storage, to the image processing apparatusvia the first network interface, wherein the image processing apparatuscomprises: an image processor; a second network interface; an operationinterface; and a second controller configured to: accept, via theoperation interface, an input of an instruction to perform datacommunication with the service providing apparatus; in response toaccepting the input of the instruction to perform data communicationwith the service providing apparatus, transmit communication requestinformation to the server via the second network interface, thecommunication request information being for requesting the server toperform data communication with the service providing apparatus; receiveacquisition instruction information from the server via the secondnetwork interface, the acquisition instruction information being forinstructing the image processing apparatus to receive the authenticationinformation; receive the authentication information from the informationprocessing terminal device via the second network interface; transmitthe received authentication information to the server via the secondnetwork interface; and perform data communication with the serviceproviding apparatus via the second network interface, and wherein theserver comprises: a third network interface configured to communicatewith an external device via the Internet; and a third controllerconfigured to: in response to receiving the communication requestinformation from the image processing apparatus via the third networkinterface, transmit the acquisition instruction information to the imageprocessing apparatus via the third network interface.
 2. Thecommunication system according to claim 1, wherein the first networkinterface comprises: a first communication interface configured tocommunicate with the server via the Internet; and a first near-fieldcommunication interface configured to perform near-field wirelesscommunication with the image processing apparatus, using a near-fieldwireless communication protocol, wherein the first controller is furtherconfigured to: in response to accepting the input of the instruction toperform the preparation process via the user interface, transmit thetransmission request information to the server via the firstcommunication interface; receive the authentication information from theserver via the first communication interface; and transmit theauthentication information stored in the terminal-side storage, to theimage processing apparatus via the first near-field communicationinterface, wherein the second network interface comprises: a secondcommunication interface configured to communicate with at least one ofthe server and the service providing apparatus via the Internet; and asecond near-field communication interface configured to performnear-field wireless communication with the information processingterminal device, using a near-field wireless communication protocol, andwherein the second controller is further configured to: in response toaccepting the input of the instruction to perform data communicationwith the service providing apparatus, transmit the communication requestinformation to the server via the second communication interface;receive the acquisition instruction information from the server via thesecond communication interface; in response to receiving the acquisitioninstruction information from the server via the second communicationinterface, set the second near-field communication interface into areceivable state where the second near-field communication interface isallowed to receive the authentication information from the informationprocessing terminal device; receive the authentication information fromthe information processing terminal device via the second near-fieldcommunication interface; transmit the received authenticationinformation to the server via the second communication interface;receive communication instruction information from the server via thesecond communication interface, the communication instructioninformation indicating a method for data communication with the serviceproviding apparatus; and in response to receiving the communicationinstruction information from the server via the apparatus-sidecommunication interface, perform data communication with the serviceproviding apparatus via the second communication interface in accordancewith the received communication instruction information.
 3. Thecommunication system according to claim 2, wherein the second controlleris further configured to, when transmitting the authenticationinformation to the server, transmit apparatus type information alongwith the authentication information, to the server via the secondcommunication interface, the apparatus type information being foridentifying a type of the image processing apparatus, and wherein thethird controller is further configured to: in response to receiving theauthentication information and the apparatus type information from theimage processing apparatus via the third network interface, determinewhether the image processing apparatus of the type identified by thereceived apparatus type information is allowed to perform datacommunication with the service providing apparatus; in response todetermining that the image processing apparatus of the identified typeis allowed to perform data communication with the service providingapparatus, transmit the communication instruction information to theimage processing apparatus via the third network interface; and inresponse to determining that the image processing apparatus of theidentified type is not allowed to perform data communication with theservice providing apparatus, transmit error information to the imageprocessing apparatus via the third network interface, the errorinformation representing that the image processing apparatus of theidentified type is not allowed to perform data communication with theservice providing apparatus.
 4. The communication system according toclaim 2, wherein the second controller is further configured to, inresponse to a near-field wireless connection being established betweenthe image processing apparatus and the information processing terminaldevice, transmit apparatus type information to the informationprocessing terminal device via the second near-field communicationinterface, the apparatus type information being for identifying a typeof the image processing apparatus, wherein the first controller isfurther configured to: in response to receiving the apparatus typeinformation from the image processing apparatus via the first near-fieldcommunication interface, determine whether the image processingapparatus of the type identified by the received apparatus typeinformation is allowed to perform data communication with the serviceproviding apparatus; in response to determining that the imageprocessing apparatus of the identified type is allowed to perform datacommunication with the service providing apparatus, transmit theauthentication information stored in the terminal-side storage, to theimage processing apparatus via the first near-field communicationinterface; and in response to determining that the image processingapparatus of the identified type is not allowed to perform datacommunication with the service providing apparatus, transmit errorinformation to the image processing apparatus via the first near-fieldcommunication interface, the error information representing that theimage processing apparatus of the identified type is not allowed toperform data communication with the service providing apparatus.
 5. Thecommunication system according to claim 2, wherein the third controlleris further configured to: in response to receiving the transmissionrequest information from the information processing terminal device viathe third network interface, receive the authentication informationissued by the service providing apparatus, from the service providingapparatus via the third network interface; and transmit the receivedauthentication information to the information processing terminal devicevia the third network interface.
 6. The communication system accordingto claim 5, wherein the authentication information comprises: masterauthentication information; and one-time authentication information thatis updated each time the image processing apparatus performs datacommunication with the service providing apparatus, and wherein thethird controller is further configured to: in response to receiving themaster authentication information from the image processing apparatusvia the third network interface, acquire the one-time authenticationinformation from the service providing apparatus, using the masterauthentication information; and transmit the communication instructioninformation including the acquired one-time authentication information,to the image processing apparatus via the third network interface. 7.The communication system according to claim 2, wherein theauthentication information comprises: first authentication informationissued by the service providing apparatus; and second authenticationinformation issued by the server, wherein the server further comprises aserver-side storage, and wherein the third controller is furtherconfigured to: in response to receiving the transmission requestinformation from the information processing terminal device via thethird network interface, receive the first authentication informationfrom the service providing apparatus via the third network interface;issue the second authentication information; transmit the secondauthentication information to the information processing terminal devicevia the third network interface; and store, into the server-sidestorage, the first authentication information and the secondauthentication information in association with each other.
 8. Thecommunication system according to claim 7, wherein the third controlleris further configured to: in response to receiving the secondauthentication information from the image processing apparatus via thethird network interface, determine whether the first authenticationinformation associated with the received second authenticationinformation is stored in the server-side storage; in response todetermining that the first authentication information associated withthe received second authentication information is stored in theserver-side storage, transmit the first authentication information tothe image processing apparatus via the third network interface; and inresponse to determining that the first authentication informationassociated with the received second authentication information is notstored in the server-side storage, transmit error information to theimage processing apparatus via the third network interface, the errorinformation representing that the image processing apparatus is notallowed to perform data communication with the service providingapparatus.
 9. The communication system according to claim 8, furthercomprising a second information processing terminal device that isdifferent from the information processing terminal device as a firstinformation processing terminal device, the second informationprocessing terminal device being incapable of near-field wirelesscommunication, wherein the third controller is configured to: inresponse to receiving the transmission request information from thefirst information processing terminal device via the third networkinterface, transmit the first authentication information to the firstinformation processing terminal device via the third network interface;and in response to receiving the transmission request information fromthe second information processing terminal device via the third networkinterface, issue the second authentication information, transmit thesecond authentication information to the information processing terminaldevice via the third network interface, and store, into the server-sidestorage, the first authentication information and the secondauthentication information in association with each other.
 10. Thecommunication system according to claim 9, wherein the third controlleris further configured to transmit the acquisition instructioninformation to the image processing apparatus via the third networkinterface, the acquisition instruction information being for instructingthe image processing apparatus to receive the first authenticationinformation via the second near-field communication interface and toaccept the second authentication information via the operationinterface, wherein the second controller is configured to: enable thesecond near-field communication interface to receive the firstauthentication information from the first information processingterminal device, and enable the operation interface to accept an inputof the second authentication information; in response to receiving thefirst authentication information from the first information processingterminal device via the second near-field communication interface,transmit the first authentication information to the server via thesecond communication interface; and in response to accepting an input ofthe second authentication information via the operation interface,transmit the second authentication information to the server via thesecond communication interface.
 11. The communication system accordingto claim 8, wherein the third controller is configured to: in responseto receiving the second authentication information from the imageprocessing apparatus via the second communication interface, transmitthe first authentication information associated with the secondauthentication information, to the image processing apparatus via thethird network interface; and in response to receiving the firstauthentication information from the image processing apparatus via thethird network interface, transmit the communication instructioninformation to the image processing apparatus via the third networkinterface, wherein the image processing apparatus further comprises anapparatus-side storage, and wherein the second controller is furtherconfigured to: in response to receiving the first authenticationinformation from the server via the second communication interface,store the first authentication information into the apparatus-sidestorage; and transmit the first authentication information stored in theapparatus-side storage, to the server via the second communicationinterface.
 12. The communication system according to claim 8, whereinthe third controller is further configured to: in response to receivingthe second authentication information from the image processingapparatus via the third network interface, transmit the firstauthentication information associated with the received secondauthentication information, to the image processing apparatus via thethird network interface; and in response to receiving the firstauthentication information from the image processing apparatus via thethird network interface, transmit the communication instructioninformation to the image processing apparatus via the third networkinterface, and wherein the second controller is further configured to:in response to receiving the first authentication information from theserver via the second communication interface, transmit the firstauthentication information to the information processing terminal devicevia the second near-field communication interface; and transmit thefirst authentication information that is identical to the firstauthentication information transmitted to the information processingterminal device, to the server via the second communication interface.13. The communication system according to claim 7, wherein the firstauthentication information comprises: master authentication information;and one-time authentication information that is updated each time theimage processing apparatus performs data communication with the serviceproviding apparatus, and wherein the third controller is furtherconfigured to: in response to receiving the master authenticationinformation from the image processing apparatus via the third networkinterface, acquire the one-time authentication information from theservice providing apparatus, using the master authenticationinformation; and transmit the communication instruction informationincluding the acquired one-time authentication information, to the imageprocessing apparatus via the third network interface.
 14. Thecommunication system according to claim 2, wherein the image processingapparatus further comprises: a display; and an apparatus-side storageconfigured to store the authentication information, wherein the thirdcontroller is further configured to transmit the acquisition instructioninformation to the image processing apparatus via the third networkinterface, the acquisition instruction information being for instructingthe image processing apparatus to receive the authentication informationvia the second near-field communication interface and to accept via theoperation interface a selection of the authentication information storedin the apparatus-side storage, and wherein the second controller isfurther configured to: when setting the second near-field communicationinterface into the receivable state, control the display to display anauthentication information object representing the authenticationinformation stored in the apparatus-side storage, and enable theoperation interface to accept a selection of the authenticationinformation object on the display; and in response to accepting theselection of the authentication information object via the operationinterface, transmit the authentication information corresponding to theselected authentication information object, to the server via the secondcommunication interface.
 15. The communication system according to claim2, wherein the second controller is further configured to, after settingthe second near-field communication interface into the receivable state,repeatedly transmit a polling signal via the second near-fieldcommunication interface, and wherein the first controller is furtherconfigured to, in response to receiving the polling signal via the firstnear-field communication interface, transmit the authenticationinformation stored in the terminal-side storage, to the image processingapparatus via the first near-field communication interface.
 16. Thecommunication system according to claim 2, wherein the informationprocessing terminal device further comprises a display, wherein theterminal-side storage stores therein a plurality of pieces ofauthentication information, and wherein the first controller is furtherconfigured to: control the display to display a plurality ofauthentication information objects, each authentication informationobject representing a corresponding one of the plurality of pieces ofauthentication information stored in the terminal-side storage; enablethe user interface to accept a selection of the authenticationinformation objects; and in response to accepting the selection of oneof the authentication information objects via the user interface,transmit authentication information corresponding to the selectedauthentication information object, to the image processing apparatus viathe first near-field communication interface.
 17. The communicationsystem according to claim 1, wherein the first network interface isconfigured to perform indirect communication with the server via acommunication device and perform direct communication with the imageprocessing apparatus without involving a communication device, whereinthe first controller is further configured to: in response to acceptingthe input of the instruction to perform the preparation process via theuser interface, the transmit the transmission request information to theserver via the indirect communication; receive the authenticationinformation from the server via the indirect communication; and transmitthe authentication information stored in the terminal-side storage, tothe image processing apparatus via the direct communication, wherein thesecond network interface is configured to perform the indirectcommunication and the direct communication, and wherein the secondcontroller is further configured to: in response to accepting the inputof the instruction to perform data communication with the serviceproviding apparatus, transmit the communication request information tothe server via the indirect communication; receive the acquisitioninstruction information from the server via the indirect communication;in response to receiving the acquisition instruction information fromthe server via the indirect communication, set the second networkinterface into a receivable state where the second network interface isallowed to receive the authentication information from the informationprocessing terminal device; receive the authentication information fromthe information processing terminal device via the direct communication;transmit the received authentication information to the server via theindirect communication; receive communication instruction informationfrom the server via the indirect communication, the communicationinstruction information indicating a method for data communication withthe service providing apparatus; and in response to receiving thecommunication instruction information from the server via the indirectcommunication, perform data communication with the service providingapparatus via the indirect communication in accordance with the receivedcommunication instruction information.
 18. The communication systemaccording to claim 1, wherein the first controller of the informationprocessing terminal device is further configured to: in response toaccepting the input of the instruction to perform the preparationprocess via the user interface, transmit the transmission requestinformation to the server via the first network interface, thetransmission request information being for requesting the server totransmit authentication information; and receive the authenticationinformation from the server via the first network interface, and whereinthe third controller of the server is further configured to, in responseto receiving the transmission request information from the informationprocessing terminal device via the third network interface, transmit theauthentication information to the information processing terminal devicevia the third network interface.
 19. The communication system accordingto claim 1, wherein the second controller of the image processingapparatus is further configured to, in response to receiving theacquisition instruction information from the server via the secondnetwork interface, set the second network interface into a receivablestate where the second network interface is allowed to receive theauthentication information from the information processing terminaldevice.
 20. The communication system according to claim 1, wherein thethird controller of the server is further configured to, in response toreceiving the authentication information from the image processingapparatus via the third network interface, transmit communicationinstruction information to the image processing apparatus via the thirdnetwork interface, the communication instruction information indicatinga method for data communication with the service providing apparatus,and wherein the second controller of the image processing apparatus isfurther configured to: receive the communication instruction informationfrom the server via the second network interface; and in response toreceiving the communication instruction information from the server viathe second network interface, perform data communication with theservice providing apparatus via the second network interface inaccordance with the received communication instruction information. 21.An image processing apparatus comprising: an image processor; acommunication interface configured to communicate with at least one of aserver and a service providing apparatus via an Internet; a near-fieldcommunication interface configured to perform near-field wirelesscommunication with an information processing terminal device, using anear-field wireless communication protocol; an operation interface; anda controller configured to: accept, via the operation interface, aninput of an instruction to perform data communication with the serviceproviding apparatus on the Internet; in response to accepting the inputof the instruction to perform data communication with the serviceproviding apparatus, transmit communication request information to theserver via the communication interface, the communication requestinformation being for requesting the server to perform datacommunication with the service providing apparatus; receive acquisitioninstruction information from the server via the communication interface,the acquisition instruction information being for instructing the imageprocessing apparatus to receive authentication information, theauthentication information representing authorization to perform datacommunication with the service providing apparatus; receive theauthentication information from the information processing terminaldevice via the near-field communication interface; transmit the receivedauthentication information to the server via the communicationinterface; and perform data communication with the service providingapparatus via the communication interface.
 22. The image processingapparatus according to claim 21, wherein the controller is furtherconfigured to, in response to receiving the acquisition instructioninformation from the server via the communication interface, set thenear-field communication interface into a receivable state where thenear-field communication interface is allowed to receive theauthentication information from the information processing terminaldevice.
 23. The image processing apparatus according to claim 21,wherein the controller is further configured to: receive communicationinstruction information from the server via the communication interface,the communication instruction information indicating a method for datacommunication with the service providing apparatus; and in response toreceiving the communication instruction information from the server viathe communication interface, perform data communication with the serviceproviding apparatus via the communication interface in accordance withthe received communication instruction information.
 24. A servercomprising: a communication interface configured to communicate with animage processing apparatus, an information processing terminal device,and a service providing apparatus via an Internet, the image processingapparatus being configured to perform data communication with theservice providing apparatus using authentication information, theauthentication information representing authorization to perform datacommunication with the service providing apparatus; and a controllerconfigured to: receive communication request information from the imageprocessing apparatus via the communication interface, the communicationrequest information being for requesting the server to perform datacommunication with the service providing apparatus; and in response toreceiving the communication request information from the imageprocessing apparatus via the communication interface, transmitacquisition instruction information to the image processing apparatusvia the communication interface, the acquisition instruction informationbeing for instructing the image processing apparatus to receive theauthentication information.
 25. The server according to claim 24,wherein the controller is further configured to: receive transmissionrequest information from the information processing terminal device viathe communication interface, the transmission request information beingfor requesting the server to transmit the authentication information; inresponse to receiving the transmission request information from theinformation processing terminal device, transmit the authenticationinformation to the information processing terminal device via thecommunication interface; and in response to receiving the authenticationinformation from the image processing apparatus via the communicationinterface, transmit communication instruction information to the imageprocessing apparatus via the communication interface, the communicationinstruction information indicating a method for data communication withthe service providing apparatus.